3 ways to become more environmentally friendly in 2015

02/09/2015 02:32PM
● Published by Tim

Gallery: JP Rippinger [2 Images] Click any image to expand.

3 ways to become more environmentally
friendly in 2015

(BPT) - Whether you’re
motivated by a workplace initiative, a personal goal or the opportunity to
teach your children lifelong positive habits, now is a great time to become
more environmentally friendly. Earth Day is April 22, but there’s still plenty
of time to develop eco-friendly habits before the big day arrives.

According to Jon Rippinger,
J.P. Rippinger in North Aurora, “Contributing to a cleaner, healthier environment
has been a passion of mine for many years. Here are three ways your family can
create positive environmental change starting today.”

Recycle

Research shows that less
than 2 percent of waste in the United States is recycled, yet almost half of all
trash can be recycled. School lunches are one source of waste that most
families don’t consider. These are packed each morning and tossed away each
afternoon once lunchtime is finished.

To increase awareness of
recycling options during lunch, Entenmann’s
Little Bites Snacks has partnered with the recycling and upcycling
experts at TerraCycle for the “Turn Trash to Cash” program, giving students the
chance to recycle their Little Bites snack pouches and earn money for their
school. TerraCycle can recycle the pouches to create products like tote bags,
pencil cases and even picnic benches.

Water is one of the most
important resources people have, yet every year billions of gallons are
needlessly wasted. You can conserve water in your home by teaching your
children to take shorter showers or baths, turning off dripping faucets and
avoiding letting the water run while they are brushing their teeth.

You can also reduce
water waste in your home by investing in water-saving appliances and by
reducing or eliminating the practice of watering your lawn, relying on rain to
do so instead.

Help plant a tree

Few things are as
beautiful as a tall, healthy tree. But trees are more than just a beautiful
backdrop, as they are also essential to the environment. Here are four reasons
why from the Arbor Day Foundation:

1. Trees help clean the
air. They improve the quality of the air you breathe by capturing dust and
pollution particles that can affect your health.

2. Trees help fight
climate change. As trees grow, they remove greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide
from the air, store carbon, and release pure oxygen into the atmosphere.

3. Trees planted along
waterways can help filter out chemicals that might otherwise wash to water
sources. They also can create stable soil and help prevent soil erosion, flooding
and even landslides.

4. Trees properly
planted around a home can help lower air conditioning and heating costs by up
to 25 percent.

“If you are removing trees,
or landscaping materials, be sure that are disposed of properly by an eco–friendly
contractor,” Rippinger added.

Environmentally friendly
habits are easy to pick up and they can be a great way to bond with your
children on a shared project while developing lifelong habits. Start your
family down the eco-friendly path today.